Application of whey protein-pectin nano-complex carriers for loading of lactoferrin.

Our aim was to entrap lactoferrin (LF) in complex nano-particles of whey protein isolate (WPI)-high methoxyl pectin (HMP) with the ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 through acidification at pH values of 3, 3.5, and 4. The zeta-potential, size, sedimentable-complex yield, LF content, encapsulation efficiency, SEM, AFM, FTIR, and DSC of nano-particles were investigated. Our results revealed that almost all analyzed parameters of the final nano-particles were related to preparation pH value, WPI/HMP ratios, and acidification methods In both methods of pre- and post-acidification, the zeta potential was decreased via decreasing of pH from 4 to 3 and particle size was increased at higher HMP ratios to WPI. In general, the pre-blending acidification provided a larger mass of complexes compared with post-blending counterparts. Also, the nano-particles produced by WPI/HMP with the ratio of 2:1 at pH=3.5 had the smallest sizes. The highest LF content of the complexes as well as the optimal entrapment efficiency was observed at pH=3.5, in both methods of post and pre-blending. Finally, the pre-blending by a ratio of 2:1 for WPI/HMP was chosen as the optimal treatment for producing nano-particles containing LF. This was confirmed by SEM, AFM, FTIR, and DSC studies.

Nano-encapsulation of isolated lactoferrin from camel milk by calcium alginate and evaluation of its release.

Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein, playing several biological roles. The main goal of our work was to nanoencapsulate the isolated lactoferrin from camel milk through alginate nanocapsuls. We studied the influence of alginate concentration (0.2 and 0.5 w/w%) and encapsulation method (thermal vs. non-thermal treatment) on the encapsulation efficiency, zeta potential, particle size and release of lactoferrin from nanocapsuls. Our results revealed in 0.8 and 0.9 M NaCl fractions, lactoperoxidase was present. So these fractions were not passed to further experiments. On average, we measured the lactoferrin content to be 0.5 g/l within the original camel milk. In general, higher alginate concentration resulted in higher encapsulation efficiency and nanocapsuls prepared with thermal treatment had a higher efficiency (almost 100%) along with smaller particle sizes (mostly<100 nm). By evaluating the release of lactoferrin from nanocapsuls, it was revealed that there was no release at the first 30 min in both pH values (2 and 7). This could be particularly useful since lactoferrin would be maintained intact within stomach conditions and it can reach lower gastrointestinal tract to be delivered safely into the body.